Steve Sullivan
@stevejazz.bsky.social
Longtime writer & editor, author of several books including "Va Va Voom" & the four-volume Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings. Liberal Democrat, passionately anti-Trump, jazz/pop music fanatic, & baseball fan.
Ricky Riccardi must be the world's leading authority on Louis Armstrong, and his latest book "Stomp Off, Let's Go" is a major achievement. I've read numerous Armstrong biographies, and this ranks among the best, offering important insights into his early (pre-1930) years. Highly recommended.
May 5, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Ricky Riccardi must be the world's leading authority on Louis Armstrong, and his latest book "Stomp Off, Let's Go" is a major achievement. I've read numerous Armstrong biographies, and this ranks among the best, offering important insights into his early (pre-1930) years. Highly recommended.
Having sold his soul to Trump, Jeff Bezos is now trying to destroy one of America's great newspapers. He's betrayed the trust of readers and many talented employees. I've been a Post subscriber for over 55 years, but that has now ended. I've canceled my print subscription, in deep anger and sorrow.
February 27, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Having sold his soul to Trump, Jeff Bezos is now trying to destroy one of America's great newspapers. He's betrayed the trust of readers and many talented employees. I've been a Post subscriber for over 55 years, but that has now ended. I've canceled my print subscription, in deep anger and sorrow.
The National Labor Relations Board has/had 24 investigations into Musk's companies. Musk was also facing investigations by the FAA (for safety violations), the SEC, and the CFPB. Now all of them have gone away. Meanwhile, Musk is raking in hundreds of millions in federal contracts. Corruption 101.
February 13, 2025 at 10:32 PM
The National Labor Relations Board has/had 24 investigations into Musk's companies. Musk was also facing investigations by the FAA (for safety violations), the SEC, and the CFPB. Now all of them have gone away. Meanwhile, Musk is raking in hundreds of millions in federal contracts. Corruption 101.
At this point, Trump has basically declared war on the United States, law and order, and civilized behavior.
January 24, 2025 at 2:20 PM
At this point, Trump has basically declared war on the United States, law and order, and civilized behavior.
As President Biden writes, the horrors of January 6, 2021 must never be forgotten, or forgiven. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
January 6, 2025 at 1:26 PM
As President Biden writes, the horrors of January 6, 2021 must never be forgotten, or forgiven. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
My #6-10 songs of 2024:
6.I Remember Everything - Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves
7.Pink Skies - Zach Bryan
8.Reincarnation of a Lovebird - Samara Joy
9.Right Back to It - Waxahatchee featuring M.J. Lenderman
10.Texas Hold ‘Em - Beyonce’
6.I Remember Everything - Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves
7.Pink Skies - Zach Bryan
8.Reincarnation of a Lovebird - Samara Joy
9.Right Back to It - Waxahatchee featuring M.J. Lenderman
10.Texas Hold ‘Em - Beyonce’
December 31, 2024 at 4:49 PM
My #6-10 songs of 2024:
6.I Remember Everything - Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves
7.Pink Skies - Zach Bryan
8.Reincarnation of a Lovebird - Samara Joy
9.Right Back to It - Waxahatchee featuring M.J. Lenderman
10.Texas Hold ‘Em - Beyonce’
6.I Remember Everything - Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves
7.Pink Skies - Zach Bryan
8.Reincarnation of a Lovebird - Samara Joy
9.Right Back to It - Waxahatchee featuring M.J. Lenderman
10.Texas Hold ‘Em - Beyonce’
My top five songs of 2024:
1.Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan
2.Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
3.Birds of a Feather - Billie Eilish
4.Expresso - Sabrina Carpenter
5.Girl, So Confusing - Charli XCX & Lorde
1.Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan
2.Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
3.Birds of a Feather - Billie Eilish
4.Expresso - Sabrina Carpenter
5.Girl, So Confusing - Charli XCX & Lorde
December 31, 2024 at 4:48 PM
My top five songs of 2024:
1.Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan
2.Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
3.Birds of a Feather - Billie Eilish
4.Expresso - Sabrina Carpenter
5.Girl, So Confusing - Charli XCX & Lorde
1.Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan
2.Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
3.Birds of a Feather - Billie Eilish
4.Expresso - Sabrina Carpenter
5.Girl, So Confusing - Charli XCX & Lorde
I greatly admired Jimmy Carter, even though I was on the opposite side in two elections. In 1976, I worked for Congressman Mo Udall & his presidential campaign. Four years later, I was an alternate delegate for Ted Kennedy. But my esteem for Carter grew with the years. RIP to a good and decent man.
December 30, 2024 at 3:15 PM
I greatly admired Jimmy Carter, even though I was on the opposite side in two elections. In 1976, I worked for Congressman Mo Udall & his presidential campaign. Four years later, I was an alternate delegate for Ted Kennedy. But my esteem for Carter grew with the years. RIP to a good and decent man.
I was quite underwhelmed by the Superman trailer, but I'm keeping an open mind, and expect to see the finished product next summer. I appreciate Gunn's ambition to build a full new DC film universe piece by piece, and just hope it all comes together.
December 27, 2024 at 2:47 AM
I was quite underwhelmed by the Superman trailer, but I'm keeping an open mind, and expect to see the finished product next summer. I appreciate Gunn's ambition to build a full new DC film universe piece by piece, and just hope it all comes together.
Russ Meyer fans should check out the Indiewire review of the new Severin Films "Vixen Trilogy," remastered and available for the first time in many years. Erica Gavin's autobiography (on which I've been helping her the past year) will be available early in the new year. Great timing!
December 24, 2024 at 12:47 AM
Russ Meyer fans should check out the Indiewire review of the new Severin Films "Vixen Trilogy," remastered and available for the first time in many years. Erica Gavin's autobiography (on which I've been helping her the past year) will be available early in the new year. Great timing!
Dec. 20, 1946: Singer-songwriter Patti Smith is born.
December 20, 2024 at 9:11 PM
Dec. 20, 1946: Singer-songwriter Patti Smith is born.
Dec. 19, 1940: Folk singer/songwriter Phil Ochs is born in El Paso, Texas. We hardly need to imagine what he would be saying about Trump's insanity.
December 19, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Dec. 19, 1940: Folk singer/songwriter Phil Ochs is born in El Paso, Texas. We hardly need to imagine what he would be saying about Trump's insanity.
Kudos to the Library of Congress for adding "Star Trek 2" to the National Film Registry. I love three other Trek films just as much--#4, #6, and "First Contact." But "Wrath of Khan" was crucial for jump-starting the entire franchise.
December 17, 2024 at 9:18 PM
Kudos to the Library of Congress for adding "Star Trek 2" to the National Film Registry. I love three other Trek films just as much--#4, #6, and "First Contact." But "Wrath of Khan" was crucial for jump-starting the entire franchise.
Dec. 17, 1983: The third consecutive Top Ten single and title song of Billy Joel’s blockbuster album, "An Innocent Man" is a compelling, intimate ballad about overcoming the fear of entering into a serious relationship. The Latin undercurrent adds to its musical power.
December 17, 2024 at 2:44 PM
Dec. 17, 1983: The third consecutive Top Ten single and title song of Billy Joel’s blockbuster album, "An Innocent Man" is a compelling, intimate ballad about overcoming the fear of entering into a serious relationship. The Latin undercurrent adds to its musical power.
Watching "Close Encounters" on TCM. Perhaps for the 12th or 14th time. Never gets old.
December 17, 2024 at 12:01 AM
Watching "Close Encounters" on TCM. Perhaps for the 12th or 14th time. Never gets old.
Dec. 15, 1990: Paul Simon's electrifying "The Obvious Child," recorded in Brazil, debuts on the Billboard chart.
December 15, 2024 at 1:58 PM
Dec. 15, 1990: Paul Simon's electrifying "The Obvious Child," recorded in Brazil, debuts on the Billboard chart.
Dec. 13, 1989: Country-turned-pop superstar Taylor Swift is born in Reading, PA. Her just-completed "Eras" tour shattered every record in the books.
December 13, 2024 at 4:49 PM
Dec. 13, 1989: Country-turned-pop superstar Taylor Swift is born in Reading, PA. Her just-completed "Eras" tour shattered every record in the books.
Dec. 12, 1915: Frank Sinatra is born in Hoboken, New Jersey. Sinatra is one of the few artists who have accumulated more than 200 songs on my all-time list, which currently totals 32,000 songs (with plenty more to go).
December 12, 2024 at 2:29 PM
Dec. 12, 1915: Frank Sinatra is born in Hoboken, New Jersey. Sinatra is one of the few artists who have accumulated more than 200 songs on my all-time list, which currently totals 32,000 songs (with plenty more to go).
I've been reading Tom Boswell's work for more than 50 years. His selection for the Baseball Hall of Fame is well deserved, and overdue. As Barry Svrluga writes in today's Washington Post, Boswell "evokes the lyricism of baseball like no other writer."
December 11, 2024 at 4:52 PM
I've been reading Tom Boswell's work for more than 50 years. His selection for the Baseball Hall of Fame is well deserved, and overdue. As Barry Svrluga writes in today's Washington Post, Boswell "evokes the lyricism of baseball like no other writer."
Dec. 11, 1949: The ultimate classic of bluegrass music, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, is recorded by Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs. Dick Spottswood calls this performance "a great moment in American music."
December 11, 2024 at 4:16 PM
Dec. 11, 1949: The ultimate classic of bluegrass music, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, is recorded by Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs. Dick Spottswood calls this performance "a great moment in American music."
My books "The Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings," Volumes 1 through 4, tell the stories behind some 2,500 great song performances from the 1890s to 2016, All genres from pop, rock, soul & country to jazz, blues, & more are covered. The books remain available on Amazon, etc. Just saying.
December 10, 2024 at 11:16 PM
My books "The Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings," Volumes 1 through 4, tell the stories behind some 2,500 great song performances from the 1890s to 2016, All genres from pop, rock, soul & country to jazz, blues, & more are covered. The books remain available on Amazon, etc. Just saying.
Dec. 9, 1950: Singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading is born.
December 9, 2024 at 3:23 PM
Dec. 9, 1950: Singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading is born.
Miki Garcia earned many fans as a lovely Playboy Playmate. She stirred considerable controversy through her prominent role in the "Secrets of Playboy" series, accusing Hugh Hefner of virtually every crime in the book.
December 7, 2024 at 9:04 PM
Miki Garcia earned many fans as a lovely Playboy Playmate. She stirred considerable controversy through her prominent role in the "Secrets of Playboy" series, accusing Hugh Hefner of virtually every crime in the book.
Dec. 7, 1942: Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin is born in New York City. I saw Harry in concert at least a dozen times; always a memorable experience.
December 7, 2024 at 5:45 PM
Dec. 7, 1942: Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin is born in New York City. I saw Harry in concert at least a dozen times; always a memorable experience.
Dec. 6, 1920: Jazz pianist/composer Dave Brubeck is born David Warren in Concord, CA.
December 6, 2024 at 5:55 PM
Dec. 6, 1920: Jazz pianist/composer Dave Brubeck is born David Warren in Concord, CA.